Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy In The Woodlands

Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP therapy, also known as autologous rejuvenation therapy, is a revolutionary new treatment. It is often also referred to, by the media, as a “Vampire Facelift” or “Dracula Therapy”.

PRP therapy works on the basis that the body’s own natural healing powers may slow and even reverse the ageing process – it’s a revolutionary repair system that places growth factors in the exact location where we want the skin to repair and rejuvenate itself.

Blood (a small amount) is taken from the patient during the treatment, then treated (in a centrifuge) to harvest the platelet rich plasma and re-injected into the desired area. The therapy is said to plump skin, fill out fine lines and wrinkles, and give an overall more radiant appearance.

Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy has been used for a number of years in urology, ophthalmology, dentistry, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and sports medicine, to treat muscle and ligament injuries, pain problems, skin lesions and more. Due to the success of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in medicine, the procedure was then developed into a cosmetic procedure.

Platelets contain a high content of “growth factors” – proteins that help to heal injured tissue or damaged skin. Upon re-injection the platelets release their growth factors which trigger surrounding cells to proliferate, in turn stimulating repair, increasing volume and rejuvenating the skin.

If you are considering Platelet Rich Plasma therapy the following information will give you a basic understanding of the procedure. It can't answer all your questions, since a lot depends on the individual patient and the practitioner. Please ask a practitioner about anything you don't understand.

There are now many ‘brands’ of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for use in cosmetic enhancement including Regen, GLOPRP, Angel Lift, Dracula Therapy and Cellenis, which all offer a different method or process for refining and creating the PRP ‘product’  from the original blood source.

During your first visit to a clinic, you should explain what you expect from PRP Therapy and how you would like to look afterwards. Your practitioner should discuss any potential problems connected with the treatment based on your medical history.

The practitioner should take a medical history to make sure that there are no reasons why you shouldn’t have the treatment. Then you will usually be asked to read detailed information and sign a consent form which means that you have understood what the treatment may do, along with any potential side effects.
 
Photographs may also be taken by the practitioner for a “before and after” comparison of the treatment.

10 to 20 minutes before your procedure, your practitioner will draw 10-20ml of blood. This is done in a similar way to when you have blood taken for testing at the doctor’s office.

The blood will then be spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet plasma from the red blood cells using one of the branded systems described.

Any makeup on the skin will be removed using a wipe, and antiseptic will be applied to the injection site. Depending on your practitioner, a topical local anaesthetic will then be applied to the skin of the injection site. The PRP will then be injected into the skin in the desired area using a very fine needle. Injections will be given multiple times in multiple locations in order to give an overall improvement to the area.

An ice pack may then be pressed onto the treated site to reduce any swelling. You will then be free to leave and go about your daily business. The whole procedure usually takes about 30 minutes.

It may take a few weeks for the results of the PRP therapy to become visible, but with two to three top-up treatments, you can expect the results of PRP therapy to last for up to one and a half years.

There are few side effects associated with Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy. Immediately after the procedure, you can expect some bruising, swelling and redness at the injection sites. You may also experience some tenderness and pain at the injection sites. However, any side effects should dissipate within a few days following the procedure.

To undergo PRP therapy, you should be in general good health and you should have realistic expectations of the outcome. Most people are suitable candidates for PRP therapy, and it is recommended as a safe treatment for individuals who are unable to undergo more invasive procedures such as a full face lift, due to the risks associated with general anaesthetic (although it will not achieve the same results as a surgical face lift).

Individuals with platelet dysfunction syndrome, critical thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenaemia, haemodynamic instability, sepsis, acute & chronic infections and chronic liver pathology are not suitable candidates for PRP therapy.

Those undergoing anti-coagulant therapy are also not suitable candidates.

It is unlikely that anyone considering PRP Therapy for cosmetic indications would be able to access this free of charge on the National Health Service (NHS).

PRP therapy is a revolutionary new therapy that is a safe and alternative treatment to various other non-invasive cosmetic treatments such as botulinum toxins and dermal fillers. It’s considered to be a natural treatment, as it uses the body’s own cells (blood plasma) rather than a synthetic substance.

Following PRP therapy, your skin will look more smooth, radiant and youthful.

There are very few risks associated with PRP therapy if it is administered by a fully trained physician.